Articles
Article Archives
- October 2022
- September 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- June 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- All Current Articles
Moving Illinois and its agriculture to the forefront
By Denise Faris
FARM Illinois is the state’s food and agriculture industry’s greatest cheerleader. An acronym for Food and Agriculture RoadMap for Illinois, FARM Illinois is a major initiative designed to secure Chicago and Illinois as a global hub and agriculture in Illinois as a global leader, according to Lee Strom, project director of FARM Illinois and guest speaker at the Farmers’ January meeting. Strom works with his son, Tyler, project manager of FARM Illinois, to help FARM Illinois achieve its objectives.
Strom related that FARM Illinois is the first coordinated effort system to bring together agriculture, food, major food companies, business, universities, and Chicago. “There never has been an effort to bring all of these groups together,” said Strom. “We want our state to be a regional, national and global hub. We have a world class asset in Chicago and in Illinois agriculture.”
FARM Illinois represents thinking forward and making the country and the world aware of what Illinois has to offer, said Strom. The state is centrally located, is a transportation hub, and boasts some 27 million acres of prime farmland, he noted. Additionally, it has Chicago, a global magnate for business; witness ConAgra Foods’ recent decision to move to Chicago from Omaha.
While Illinois and its food and agriculture sector have much to offer, they face challenges:
- The world population of 7.3 billion is increasing. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack predicted that in 35 years, the United States will need as much innovation as has occurred in the last 10,000 years to feed this growing population, related Strom.
- Consumers’ preferences are changing. Will food and agriculture be able to give the knowledge new generations want about their food?
- The agriculture sector in Illinois has never fully recognized Chicago and its contributions to agriculture and the global food economy. This has to change.
“FARM Illinois is working to bring all of the necessary parties together so there is greater collaboration, coordination and discussion,” said Strom. “Illinois does a lot of good things, but it does not get recognized. We have to be identified as a global leader. That is the goal of FARM Illinois. FARM connects groups and helps them move forward. It champions Illinois.”
Strom said that FARM Illinois is dedicated to “ensuring that we get it right for the future.” He added, “We want to create the right environment for job opportunities. We want our young people to know that agriculture offers a viable future.”
Strom related that FARM Illinois is funded through the private sector and it wants to remain that way. Its benefactors include the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, 1st Farm Credit Services, Archer Daniels Midland Company, CME Group, Farm Credit Illinois, Fresh Taste, GROWMARK, Inc., Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization-iBIO, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association, Ingredion, Renew Moline, Inc., and United Airlines.
For more information, go to www.farmillinois.org.
